Mark
What will Jesus use you to restore today? Some days my hope is to merely survive the day and return to my pillow alive. Other days my hope is to return to the pillow not just alive but a different man than I left it. Perhaps more often I should
Mark
Are you willing to follow Jesus? If this is a Sunday School question, the answer is yes. Following Jesus is the effect that comes with a restored relationship with God. Becoming more like Jesus is one of our primary goals. What Christian wouldn’t follow Jesus, right? Jesus once more
Mark
Doing God’s work is never wrong. Don’t confuse this with thinking that God’s work is easy. Doing what God asks may be difficult. It might involve sacrifice. It might put us at odds with other people. It might give other people cause to raise their eyebrows and
Mark
Experience is the best teacher of all things. Anyone who has made it into adulthood and wrestled with random life events can attest to this fact. Much of what I can do today are things I’ve learned along the way because it needed to get done, and frequently having
Mark
New things can be both exciting and scary. I remember driving for the first time – convinced someone was about to die yet thrilled at the control at my fingertips. I remember the first time I taught in a classroom or preached my first sermon – scared to death of saying something
Mark
How frequently is life a celebration? Jesus is questioned about fasting. Prior to getting into Jesus’ teaching, two thoughts need highlighting. First, compare this story in Mark with the parallel story in Matthew 9:14-17. In Mark, Jesus says, “Can the wedding guests fast as long as the bridegroom
Mark
How do you respond when you are sick? I like to try and heal myself. I sleep more, take my favorite cold medicine, and hope it gets better. I loathe going to the doctor, and I like going to an urgent care even less. I don’t have trouble acknowledging
Mark
Jesus knows what the heart desires. Once more, Jesus seeks the opportunity to teach on the run, as it were. Notice that the crowds continue to follow Him. They’ve seen enough of Jesus to expect the unexpected. Even when Jesus looks like He’s settling in for a good
Mark
Jesus has a superpower. This shouldn’t surprise anyone; He is the Son of God. Jesus was born of a virgin. Angels announced His coming to mankind. A star in the sky declared His coming. As God-made-man, Jesus embodied incredible power. Look back at what we’ve already
Mark
Sometimes it is good to speak your mind. Some things need to be said. Psychologists often say – depending on the circumstance, of course – that it is better to get things out then keep them bottled up and festering inside. When we put thoughts into words we either hear how crazy
Mark
Ever get a gift you weren’t expecting and had no idea how much you really need it? As a kid, I remember opening up socks on Christmas morning and feeling disappointment because they weren’t as cool as the Lego sets I was hoping to get later on. A
Mark
If you had enough time to do anything you want, what would you do? Being a person who loves working with wood, I’d love to spend some time with some walnut or cherry and make something beautiful. Being a person who loves mentoring, I’d love to sit down